Is nicotine gum bad for you?

So you’re thinking about using nicotine gum as a way to cut back on smoking. But you might be wondering about the long-term effects of nicotine gum: you know that nicotine is addictive, so what happens if you take it over an extended period of time?

Will you become addicted to nicotine gum?

Will there be other health issues related to the long-term effects?

Today, we’ll break down all you need to know about nicotine gum side effects.

Let’s cut to the chase: is nicotine gum bad for you?

Nicotine is an ingredient in cigarettes with addictive properties. Still, the other ingredients, such as tar, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals, actually cause cancer, lung disease, and other conditions.

Nicotine gum contains nicotine, of course, but not all of the bad stuff - and research has shown that nicotine by itself isn’t that bad for you. It’s a stimulant, and it does have addictive properties (which mainly present themselves when you try to stop using it - also known as withdrawal - hence why quitting cigarettes is so hard).

In addition to containing none of the harmful ingredients from cigarettes, nicotine gum or lozenges contain significantly less nicotine than cigarettes.

For example, a piece of LUCY chew and park gum contains four milligrams in each piece of nicotine gum, while each cigarette may contain eight to twelve milligrams of nicotine. The volume of nicotine in cigarettes is what keeps you coming back for more. But by itself, in small quantities, nicotine gum can help you through withdrawal symptoms, so you’re able to eventually cut back on the amount you need to get through the day.

Is nicotine gum safe?

The effects of nicotine withdrawal include irritability, brain fog, constipation, cravings, coughs, and headaches. So basically, you try to stop smoking, feel like absolute human garbage, and realize the only thing that will make you feel better is picking up a cigarette. And then the cycle starts again.

The Food and Drug Administration has determined that nicotine replacement therapies can mitigate these awful side effects by helping users gradually wean themselves from smoking.

How does nicotine gum work? By using small amounts of nicotine and decreasing the quantity over time. Bonus: you’ll be sparing yourself from the potentially fatal ingredients found in cigarettes.

The Food and Drug Administration approves many nicotine replacement therapies to help with smoking cessation efforts: LUCY’s nicotine lozenges are approved by the FDA to help people quit smoking.

Are there side effects from chewing nicotine gum?

There are some side effects from chewing nicotine gum, although none of them are as bad as the side effects of ongoing cigarette use. Users of nicotine gum might experience mild dizziness, dry mouth, headaches, upset stomach, or hiccups.

You should contact your doctor if you start using nicotine gum and experience a pounding heartbeat, wheezing, chest tightness, or blisters inside your mouth. In addition, if you experience hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, you should seek immediate emergency medical attention as you may be having an allergic reaction.

Will chewing nicotine gum harm your teeth or your gums?

Your dentist will probably be elated to hear that you want to cut back on smoking.

One of the most visible impacts of smoking cigarettes is the impact on your teeth - many smokers find that cigarettes stain their teeth yellow (gross). Ongoing smoking can make your breath (and your hair, and your clothes) smell like, well, an ashtray.

And as we all start to venture back out into the world, you might remember that most people don’t want to stand next to an ashtray in an elevator or make out with an ashtray on a second date. Nicotine gum doesn’t have a smoky smell or taste, and so you won’t have to worry about your breath or your clothes. And, if you quit smoking, your teeth and gums should start to return to their normal color over the next several months. In addition, ongoing smoking can cause problems for your oral health, including pain when you chew, tender or bleeding gums, sensitive or loose teeth, and a receding gum line.

Nicotine gum can cause issues for your teeth and gums, but they are relatively minor compared to the side effects of smoking. Nicotine gum can also lead to mouth irritation like blisters or sores, as well as jaw pain. However, these issues are mostly found in longer-term users, and the vast majority of people are able to sufficiently cut back on smoking after several months and so no longer need it.

What are the long-term effects of nicotine gum?

Since nicotine gum was introduced on the market more than 35 years ago, there haven’t been any documented long-term side effects or negative health impacts identified resulting from using nicotine gum for an extended time.

If you’re still using nicotine gum after about six months and don’t feel like it’s helping, you should talk to your doctor, and they might be able to suggest additional treatment options or solutions (for example, it might be helpful to consider working with a therapist as you use nicotine gum to process any of the mental or emotional issues that might be driving you to smoke).

So if you’re thinking about cutting back on smoking and want to try a solution that is effective and has minimal side effects - short or long-term, give LUCY chew and park gum or nicotine lozenges a try!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should not be construed as a substitute for, professional medical or health advice on any subject matter. Please consult your physician regarding any medical treatment decisions.